NEW ORLEANS - Stanford kicked off its 2024 season with three regattas over the weekend. The Cardinal topped the field at the PCCSC Match Race Championship, took second in the Allstate Women’s Sugar Bowl, and fourth in the Allstate Open Sugar Bowl.
“I have a lot of faith in this boat to do the work required to win a championship,” said head sailing coach Chris Klevan on the conference championship-winning match race team. “Winning the conference was the first necessary step towards that goal.”
The Cardinal was decisive from start to finish in the regatta, taking all four wins against its opponents in both round robins. Stanford competed against USC, Hawaii, Cal State Maritime, and California in the event and came out on top, with Hawaii taking second and Cal State Maritime finishing in third.
In the Sugar Bowl regattas, Stanford kicked off its season against some strong opponents.
“For all but one person sailing this was a successful start to a long and encouraging career in college sailing,” said Klevan. “I saw many things to suggest there is a lot to look forward to.”
Stanford’s A boat took first in the division by a wide margin, finishing with 46 points. Second place Tulane had 65. Sophie Fisher and freshman Piper Blackband led the way for Stanford in the A division.
“And for the one who is now half way through her career, Sophie Fisher, sailing with Piper Blackband, I saw enough to suggest they’ll be ready for the biggest stage when it comes time,” said Klevan. “The A-Division win is an exciting finish.”
Stanford’s B boat finished fourth overall in the division with 119 points, earning the Cardinal 165 points overall for second place. Ava Cornell and Alexandra Jones took the helm of the B division boat for the Cardinal.
In the Allstate Open Sugar Bowl, Stanford’s A boat claimed a fourth place finish in the division. A pair of freshmen, Dylan Sih and Ashtyn Tierney finished with 101 points.
The B division boat consisting of two more freshmen, Thomas Whidden and Abby Baird also took fourth, finishing with 89 points.
The Cardinal returns to action next weekend with a boatload of action in the PCCSC Singlehanded championship, the Women’s ACC Round 1, the Danmark Trophy, and the Moody Trophy.